Hi, my lab is 11 months now, he's never been a big foodie, I've recently introduced clicker training to make it more obvious to him what behaviour I like. It does seem to be having a good effect. I previously used a marker word. I'm sure he associates the clicker with a treat, we worked on this, he always associated the marker word with a treat. But even if there are no distractions, he doesn't always take the treat, even if its roast chicken. What should I do in this instance, do I continue to click when he does something good and leave it to him to take the treat or not? I'm not sure if clicking when he does something good is as positive as me saying 'good' if he decides not to have a treat. even though he is not a food orientated lab, he's a healthy huge lab. thanks Lisa
How did you introduce the clicker Lisa? It needs to be "charged up" first. This may take just one or a few sessions. After this he should always be looking for the treat after the click. Do you use really scrummy irresistible treats? Maybe something stinky. If you still don't think the click is a strong as your marker word, then concentrate on that, on your timing to be able to pinpoint the behaviour you're after with your marker.
I believe I'm correct in saying that a click can be followed by a play reward - e.g. a quick game of tuggy or a throw of a ball. I realise that isn't always practical, but might work in some situations.
Is he just full? Remember when you're training with food, you need to reduce his meals by a significant amount. Maybe try cutting his meals by a third and trying again. My sister always said her cocker wasn't interested in food, but he was just being overfed. Once she cut his meals down to a more suitable size, he was suddenly more interested in both his meals and treats.
Treats did not a blessed thing for two dogs in our first training class, where we used clickers. The Lab mix needed a tug play. The poor, poor woman with the Siberian Husky, her dog had to have a tummy rub. A lying on his back on the floor tummy rub. She spent the class transitioning him to standing up tummy rubs. Treats don't cut it for my dog outside. A tiny bit of food as compensation for running off somewhere he wants to go? Forget it. A throw of his ball is what I use outside.
I am not at all sure this is about love food or not. Charlie responds to the click with a whip lash response. Betsy does not. Betsy is a great deal more addicted to food than Charlie is - Charlie spits food out when excited, doesn't stop him responding to the clicker though. Betsy would do anything for food, but doesn't respond to the click like Charlie. I had a session with a trainer about this with Betsy, and I'm doing a great deal more shaping with Betsy - on things that don't matter - to improve her response to the click. She just doesn't quite get it like Charlie (she is a bit slow....says Charlie, anyway ).
I think I charged the clicker ok, I used chicken and tuna, I'll try cutting his food a bit, I tend to train before meal times. He is always interested in his meals, but not always in treats. But cutting his food might help. I can't stop myself saying 'good' at the same time as I use the clicker anyway as its reflex now, but the clicker definitely has helped define the wanted behaviour more clearly. thanks for all the advice
